Opened: October 2, 1968 by Sterling Theatres as the Pasadena Hastings Theatre, a single screen theatre with a 25' x 60' curved screen and 70mm capability. Norelco AAIIs were in the booth. Sterling was later rebranded as the Sterling Recreation Organization, or SRO.
Thanks to Ed Collins for this c.1979 photo that appeared with an article in the November 1982 issue of "SRO Spotlite," the Sterling Recreation Organization publication. Ed was initially an assistant manager at SRO's Rolling Hills in Torrance, then became an assistant manager at the Paramount in Hollywood (now back to its original El Capitan name). Soon he was managing SRO's Holly Theatre and then transferred to the Hastings. He retired from SRO in 1985.
An ad announcing the opening in the Pasadena Star-News. The October 5, 1968 edition carried 11 pages of ads related to the theatre. The opening attraction was "The Graduate." Thanks to Matt Hormann for including the ad in his 2010 now-vanished Hometown Pasadena article "The Fate of the Pacific Hastings."
The theatre was constructed on the south edge of SRO's Hastings Drive-In. The project had been announced in an article on page 32 of the March 25, 1968 issue of Boxoffice. The configuration was somewhat unique in that the lobby was at the screen end of the building with the audience entering along the sides of the continental-seated auditorium. The conclusion of the Boxoffice article that was located by Joe Vogel commented:
"Entrances will be comparatively near the screen. Incoming partons will be facing the audience and light reflected from the faces of those already present will make it convenient for newcomers to find vacant seats."
Seating: 1,542 originally when it was a single screen theatre. The main house was later split into two resulting in a 288 seat house in front (with the seating perpendicular to the main theatre) and the back of the original theatre remaining as a 900+ seat auditorium with a new flat screen. There was then 70mm capability in both houses. In late 1985 three small auditoria were added in a new annex. A 1994 renovation split each of the three added theatres down the middle resulting in an 8 screen complex.
Thanks to Ed Collins for sharing the issue from his collection. SRO is now a real estate company: Sterling Realty Organization.
Beginning in June 1985 the Hastings was operated by Pacific Theatres as Pacific's Hastings when Sterling exited the Southern California market.
A December 6, 1985 ad announcing the opening of the three screen annex. Thanks to Mike Rivest for locating it.
A 1994 ad for the Hastings as an 8 screen complex after each of the three new theatres had been split down the middle. It was later advertised as Pacific's Hastings 8. Thanks to the site From Script To DVD for this ad appearing on their page about the complex.
Closed: The theatre closed on August 26, 2007 and was demolished in August and September 2013.
Status: An L.A. Fitness branch is now on the site.
Interior views:
A c.1979 photo that appeared with the article in the November 1982 issue of SRO Spotlite. Thanks to Ed Collins for sharing the issue from his collection. At this point the house still had its curved screen and a seating capacity of 1,542. The lobby was behind the screen.
The lobby in 2005. Photo: Scott Neff - Cinema Tour. Thanks, Scott!
More exterior views:
2007 - The signage of the complex before closing. Photo: Deanna Bayless
2007 - The entrance at night. Photo: Deanna Bayless
2007 - The rear of the complex - Photo: Deanna Bayless. Thanks, Deanna!
2014 - The new building on the site. It's a photo posted by Carol Momsen on the Photos of Los Angeles private Facebook group in a thread about the Hastings Drive-In and the other theatres later on the site.
2019 - Looking north from Foothill Blvd. That's Rosemead Blvd. on the right. Photo: Google Maps
More Information: The Cinema Tour page on the Hastings 8 features 54 photos by Ed Collins, Mark Campbell and Scott Neff. See the Cinema Treasures page on the theatre for many comments from Joe Vogel and other fans of the building.
The area north of the theatre was once occupied by the Hastings Drive-In. In addition to many other new buildings that rose on the drive-in property, the Mann Hastings Ranch 3 was built in 1975.
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A slight and minor correction...
ReplyDeleteThe article states I "later" managed the El Capitan. Actually it was the other way around.
I was first an assistant manager at SRO's Rolling Hills Twin Theatre in Torrance. I was later transferred and was an assistant manager at the Paramount, in Hollywood. (Now the El Capitan.) I was later promoted to manager and ran SRO's Holly Theatre, in Hollywood. Two years later I was transferred to the Pasadena Hastings.
I look back fondly as my days with SRO, working at these movie theatres.
- Ed Collins
Hi, Ed. Thanks for checking out the page. And for the correction. Much appreciated. I massaged the text a bit and hope it's now more accurate. Cheers! -- Bill
DeleteHi Bill!
ReplyDeleteThis sentence is wrong: "He retired in 2020 after a 36 year stint managing the El Capitan for Pacific Theatres and Disney."
Please note that, by the strangest of coincidences, that's a different Ed Collins!!!
Yes, I know why you must think that. A couple of years ago I found out there was an "Ed Collins" who was the current manager at the El Capitan! I even pointed this out to my friends on my Facebook page. But that's not me! Yes, very strange that this theatre can boast that two different people each with this same name worked there. But it's true. That Ed Collins, who worked there recently, is not me. He retired???? DARN! Was hoping to meet him someday.
(I quit SRO way back in 1985. I was with the company for about 7 years.)
Everything up to that sentence is now perfect. Thanks!
Ed Collins
Well, that is bizarre. And my lack of knowledge about your "twin" is the reason that I had initially stated that you had "later" managed the El Capitan. Thanks for the clarification! I'll give the paragraph another try. -- Bill
DeleteI really enjoyed working there 1982-83, as a junior at La Salle High School. I'm in that (July 1982) staff photo, middle of top row: Matt Reiser. Had a big crush on the asst mgr: Nicky Ryco, but sadly never acted on it. Got in trouble drinking beer behind the theater. Good times!
DeleteYes I remember the good old days ice fights Richard pat Peggy ray van der etc think It was in 1978 Gilbert anyone remembers me
ReplyDelete